Cardiff breaks club record to sign Caulker

CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — Premier League newcomer Cardiff has broken its club record to sign England defender Steven Caulker from Tottenham.

The 21-year-old center half is reported in the British media to have cost Cardiff around 8 million pounds ($12.2 million) and has signed a four-year deal.

Caulker was behind Jan Vertonghen and Michael Dawson in the pecking order at Spurs last season, although he earned his first cap for England in a friendly against Sweden in November. Caulker also played for Britain at the London Olympics.

Caulker says "I'm here to back myself up now and show what I can do. This is a fresh start, a new chapter and I'm here to kick on."

He is Cardiff's fourth offseason signing as the club prepares for its first season in the Premier League.